I don’t know about you but one of my favorite book or movie genres has to be detective mysteries. I confess that I enjoy a good tale where the person in the white hat follows a trail of clues until the whole convoluted plot is uncovered, the crime is solved and the bad guys are brought to justice. Whether the investigative techniques employed focus on the incredible insights and deductions of a Sherlock Holmes, the fascinating scientific observations of a CSI team, or the clumsy but ultimately effective bumbling’s of a Clouseau or Columbo, I find the process of gathering and putting together the pieces of the puzzle very engaging.
If you have ever watched or read many stories in this category yourself, whether factual or fiction, you will notice some reoccurring themes. Quite possibly the most common of these is the whole concept of “follow the money”. Time and time again, in the absence of any tangible, concrete leads, the detective or team asks themselves the question, “who will profit financially from this crime?” Many more times than not following that trail ends up uncovering the guilty party, for in both real life as well as in the books and movies financial gain is a powerful motivation to break the law.
Now that should come as no surprise to any of you who are up to date in your GRIP reading as you will have just read the passage in 1 Timothy 6 where the Apostle Paul has some very pointed things to say about the pursuit of wealth and riches. I am guessing that this is not a passage of Scripture that makes it into too many sermons prepared by those preaching a prosperity based gospel. I mean, 1 Timothy 6 verses 9 and 10 could be the closing summary of many of those detective books and movies that we talked about. As the guilty party is being led off to jail, or has just suffered an even worse fate, the following words could poignantly be scrolled… “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
That is a truth that many of us struggle to remember living in the time and place that we do. As 21st century North Americans we live in one of the most prosperous and materially entitled societies in history. For Canadians and Americans alike accumulating wealth and stockpiling material possessions has become the national dream, pastime, right and obsession. The onslaught of media messaging and manipulation in this area is incredibly pervasive and absolutely unrelenting. The just barely implicit messages are crystal clear: “You can have everything; your life would be so much better if you just had more; you deserve to have it all; the Jones are getting ahead—you’d better keep up; stuff = happiness, therefore more stuff = more happiness; if it ain’t broke, upgrade anyway; buy today—worry about paying for it tomorrow; just imagine the feeling; don’t let little things like common sense and fiscal responsibility slow you down when it comes to spending, because after all, you’re richer than you think!” and the brainwash list goes on and on.
But once again, as they so often do, the words of God in Scripture cut completely against the grain of popular culture, both then and now, and hit us squarely between the eyes. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6:6-8). Paul inserts a little eternal perspective reality into the mix by reminding us that there is a reason why we never see U-Hauls being pulled behind hearses. He reminds us that we can’t take the stuff accumulated in this life with us; that it doesn’t last. And even if it did and even we could it would be woefully lacking and insignificant in comparison to the glories that will be revealed, when gold becomes the new pavement.
Godly contentment is the antidote to the symptoms and unquenchable thirst for wealth and material possessions that are brought on by the poison that is being slipped into our Kool-Aid on a daily basis. Money is only a tool. It makes a useful servant but a really lousy master. We need to be reminded of that in the day and age in which we live. You see the thing is, God is not anti-wealth. He just wants to see us as His children invest wisely. What other financial advisor out there is all-knowing and the very personification of wisdom? God is, and He advises us to be putting our time and effort into the pursuit of “true” wealth, not into junk bonds. Jesus put it best when He said, “Store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20). Contentment with godliness is great gain because it releases us to pursue what is of real, lasting value. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and you truly will be eternally “richer than you think.”
-Gord Hanson
(Associate Pastor)